Swim Trends '99

Swim Trends '99

Every year, LOOKING FIT proudly presents its Annual Swimsuit Issue. The following pages contain the latest fashion trends in swimwear as well as a glimpse of the suits that will be in high demand this Cruise '99 season. Many tanning salons can garner extra profits by adding swimwear to their marketing avenues.The road to trend-current swimwear takes the middle ground for Cruise '99. Think simple, but chic. Understated, but luxurious. Gone are the extremes--from haute-drama to absolute minimalism--of seasons past. The new crop of swimsuits is all about ease--quiet, casual and very modern.

The best body by far for '99 is the new tank-ini silhouette, which offers the coverage of a one-piece and allows mid-riff tanning with just a lift of the top. Another innovative two-in-one idea is the reversible swimsuit. Sportswear influences--layered looks, soft wrap bras, tube tops and bandeaus--arrive at the seashore as well.

Katmandu colors of crimson, fuschia, burgundy, purple and orange warm up the swimwear market this season. These new spice colors are offset by gray as the new neutral. Prints and patterns almost completely disappear, replaced with the newness of high-tech fabrics in blends with cottony-soft Supplex nylon, silky-soft Tactel nylon and color-rich Antron nylon. Making headlines for Cruise '99 is the introduction of new types of LYCRA with chlorine-resistance, which provide all the comfort associated with the brand plus improved durability to keep suits in top form. These overriding trends appear within the context of key directions that bring news to Cruise '99. The top stories for the season include the following segments.

Miss Saigon

Designers re-Orient for Cruise '99 with an Eastern approach to swim styling. Gauze ombres, Shanghai scenics, butterfly prints, bamboo stripes and Chinese lettering reflect the mystique of Asia and India. Rich fabrics with subtle shimmer, intricate jacquards and sumptuous velvets are translated in the vibrant reds, purples and burgundies of the South Pacific.

I Love Lucy

The suburban style of the 1950s is au courant this season. Gidget girls look preppy-chic in pretty plaids, striped lacoste knits, feminine checks and itsy-ditsy florals. Pink is the preferred palette, best interpreted in modest one- and two-pieces made with soft, supple blends of Supplex with LYCRA.

Abstract Thinkers

Contemporary art lends an urban sophistication to Cruise '99. Streaks of color-asymmetrical stripes, diagonal swirls, circles and curves turn prints into a modern art form. Kaleidoscopes and florascopes give tanks and tank-inis an abstract appeal. Even textures get graphic, in rich-to-the-touch Tactel and LYCRA for a sensational shape.

Working Class

What works for Cruise '99? Overdyed denims, sometimes pared down and plain or amplified with flocking, contrast stitching or studs, make workwear look all play. Other occupational looks include military camouflages in offbeat blue and cowboy faux-suede counterfeits with Texas fringe detailing.

Special thanks to DuPont for its contribution to our Annual Swimsuit Issue.